In addition to returning to that "galaxy far, far, away", Star Wars: Rebels also returns to the artwork of Ralph McQuarrie, bringing unused concept designs to life. Executive producer Simon Kinberg tells Entertainment Weekly, to get away from the feeling of Clone Wars, there are now using a softer, less computer generated look; like the hand-made quality of the original films. The series will explore the formation of the Rebel Alliance, with the darker overtones of Imperial oppression, during a time relatively unexplored.

In addition to the newly introduced Inquisitor, there will be plenty of new characters, including the main cast. They are also using Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo's vast knowledge of the Star Wars Universe to help fill in a number of characters and locations; and while he can't say if we'll see any familiar characters (namely, Vader or the Emperor), Kinberg says, "...I can say that wherever possible we would want to use the original talent."